Who goes there?
Kommetjie is filled with locals who want to escape the rat race. Although the town is still only 20 minutes from the centre of Cape Town, it feels as if it's a million miles from civilisation or a large metropolis at the very least! Find surfers and young couples here, navigating the long white sandy shores of Long Beach. Further in you will find the local working population and a few retirement villages to boot Kommetjie has something for everyone.
When to visit Kommetjie?
The Atlantic Seaboard is best appreciated in the summer months, when the sun shines until eight at night. Summer (between November and April) in Kommetjie find temperatures rarely above 30°C, the perfect time for lazing on the beach or taking a stroll through the village centre.
Close By Attractions
* Chapman's Peak Drive: Linked by two impossibly scenic drives, getting from Kommetjie to the centre of Cape Town has never been more beautiful. Take your camera with if you decide to take Chapman's Peak Drive or Ou Kaapseweg, but be careful during the evening the cliffs are foreboding.
* Boulders' Beach: Watch the resident colony of Jackass Penguins on Boulder's Beach, something which is unique to the area.
* Cape Point National Park: A few minutes drive away is the Cape Point peninsula. Stand atop the ridge and spot where the two oceans "the Atlantic and the Indian" meet. Bartholomew Diaz's monument makes a perfect backdrop for any photo opportunity.
Things to do near Kommetjie
The World of Birds, just outside Hout Bay, is a must-see if you have children or are interested in the animal life of the fairest Cape. As the largest bird park in Africa, the World of Birds offers something for everyone and is a great day out. The sanctuary houses over 3 000 birds and small animals with 400 different species in more than 100 landscaped paths. The aviaries allow you to be close to nature while protecting the rare and exotic creatures.
Shopping in Kommetjie
Long Beach mall is one of the best in the area, offering everything from fashionable clothing outlets, second hand book stores, to grocery shops and stores.
Restaurants and Entertainment
Blue Water Café at the Imhoff farm is arguably the most fantastic restaurant this side of Camps Bay. Take afternoon tea here or simply sit and enjoy the view. The free range farm shop offers everything you need for your self-catering holiday accommodation, or choose to eat your meals at this wonderful restaurant.
Kommetjie does not have much in the way of nightlife, being a commuter's town, but further up the road you'll find Camps Bay which is absolutely teeming with restaurants, clubs, and nightlife to party the night (and early morning) away to.
Getting around
To get the most out of being on the Atlantic Seaboard, one should definitely hire a car. Buses stop at Kommetjie regularly and can ferry you to and from the city centre if you so wish.
Further afield
Further to the north is the Cape Winelands, filled with wine farms and vineyards to impress any wine connoisseur. Take a private tour of these historic estates and perhaps purchase a vintage pinotage to enjoy back at your Cape Town accommodation.
At less than two hours from the centre of Cape Town, Aquila game reserve is the closest safari park to the city. Stay for a few nights or come for the afternoon whatever you choose to do, the safari park will take your breath away. Sit with lions and cheetahs in the dense silence and be awed by the big cats of the wild.
The little seaside village of Kommetjie dates back to around 1900, with some of the original houses still bearing the plaques of the building date. Locals class the suburb as a commuter town, choosing to forgo the proximity to the city in exchange for the laid-back lifestyle.
